Bold or half-witted? Take your pick in describing the selection of Trent Boult in the NZ one day team for the Chappell-Hadlee series in Australia next month.
The selectors have picked a form player and fair play in continuing to support the claims of our domestic scene-setters.
Under John Bracewell, domestic form was treated contemptuously. Glenn Turner and co, quite rightly, have altered that approach, willing to take a chance on the First Class shop window.
But Boult, at a tender age and with more than a degree of rawness, is a selection of the 'Hail Mary' variety.
A meeting with Australia in their backyard is enough to raise the anxiety levels of a seasoned veteran. There is no harder assignment in the cricketing world in which to make your debut.
There is no way of telling how Boult will react given this totally new environment. He has shown a level head and an ability to handle the class rises in his career to date.
But this date with the Aussies, however, looks a step too far, too soon. I have no doubt Boult will contribute to NZ cricket in the future. But to expect the young player to front up now, is the stuff of fairytales.
The selectors need to be commended however for introducing a far, more open-minded approach to their job. By introducing the likes of Martin Guptill, Brendon Diamanti and Boult, the message to all First Class cricketers in the country is that performance is a priority in selection.
That’s why I have no gripe in the non-selection of Chris Martin.
A marginal one-day player at his best, Martin has had an ordinary time of it with Auckland and should feel no indignation at missing out.
Martin can't bat, is average in the field and is inconsistent with the ball. At a time when the nature of the game demands a full skill-set from players, Martin's time is up.
Martin was apparently miffed at not receiving a phone call from a selector informing him of his non-selection.
I doubt whether his claims were close enough to selection to warrant such a call.
There would be a dozen other cricketers the selectors could call before Martin.